The Australian Candidate Study surveys are conducted in parallel with the AES surveys of voters, and have been conducted at each federal election since 1987, with the exception of the 1998 election. All but the 1987 study have been funded by the Australian Research Council.
The 2016 Australian Election Study had two components: the “Voters Survey” of Australian citizens eligible to vote in federal elections; and the “Candidates Survey” of 2016 Australian political candidates representing the four major political parties. Many of the questions in the 2016 Candidate Survey have also been asked of Voters, allowing aggregate comparisons to be made between the views of Candidates and Voters. Other sections cover the candidate's political background, the election campaign, experience of the candidate for political office and their personal background.
For the first time, the 2016 Candidates Survey used a wholly online survey approach. Survey invitations and tailored reminders were sent via email and contained a unique survey link. In total, 591 candidates were selected and invited to participate in the survey. Of these, 182 (30.8%) went on to complete the survey (includes eligible partial completes).

2016 Australian political candidates from the four major parties (Australian Labour Party, Liberal Party, National Party and Greens)

Date of Collection

Start date - Data Collection: 2016-07-07

End date - Data Collection: 2016-07-07

Time Period

Time Period - Start: 2016-07-07

Time Period - End: 2016-07-07

Geographic Coverage

National

Geographic Unit

State

Methodology

Content

Sampling Procedure

No sampling (total universe)

Data Kind

Survey data

Response Rate

For the Candidates Survey, 182 responses were received from a total sample of 591, giving a raw response rate of 30.8%. Adjusted response rates were calculated by removing the “undelivered” sample (n=11), giving an adjusted response rate of 31.4%.

Data Access

Content

Access Conditions

The depositor may be informed (by the archive) of use being made of the data, in order to comment on that use and make contact with colleagues of similar interests.

Deposit Information

Content

Depositor

McAllister, Ian

Deposit Date

2016-11-01

Version

Version 1.0

Other

Content

Unit of Analysis

Individual

Mode of Data Collection

Web-based self-completion

Comment

The Australian Candidate Study surveys are conducted in parallel with the AES surveys of voters, and have been conducted at each federal election since 1987, with the exception of the 1998 election. All but the 1987 study have been funded by the Australian Research Council.
The 2016 Australian Election Study had two components: the “Voters Survey” of Australian citizens eligible to vote in federal elections; and the “Candidates Survey” of 2016 Australian political candidates representing the four major political parties. Many of the questions in the 2016 Candidate Survey have also been asked of Voters, allowing aggregate comparisons to be made between the views of Candidates and Voters. Other sections cover the candidate's political background, the election campaign, experience of the candidate for political office and their personal background.
For the first time, the 2016 Candidates Survey used a wholly online survey approach. Survey invitations and tailored reminders were sent via email and contained a unique survey link. In total, 591 candidates were selected and invited to participate in the survey. Of these, 182 (30.8%) went on to complete the survey (includes eligible partial completes).

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Personal website (independent of the party)

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Webpages on a party site

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Email

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- E-news/bulletins

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Blog

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Social networking sites (e.g. Facebook)

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Video-sharing sites (e.g. YouTube)

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- Twitter

Question Text: Below is a list of internet-related tools that can be used to communicate with voters during elections. For each one please say how important they were for you in the election campaign.
- SMS/text messages

Question Text: Some candidates consider online technologies to be an effective way of communicating with voters. Other candidates see traditional doorknocking and face-to-face methods as much more effective in communicating with voters. Overall where would you place your views on the following scale?

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- Equal opportunities for migrants

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- The right to show nudity and sex in films and magazines

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- Aboriginal land rights

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- Equal opportunities for women

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- The number of migrants allowed into Australia at the present time

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- Government help for Aborigines

Question Text: The statements below indicate some of the changes that have been happening in Australia over the years. For each one, please say whether you think the change has gone too far, not gone far enough, or is it about right?
- Building closer relations with Asia

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- The death penalty should be reintroduced for murder

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- The smoking of marijuana should not be a criminal offence

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- People who break the law should be given stiffer sentences

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- Women should be given preferential treatment when applying for jobs and promotions

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- All boats carrying asylum seekers should be turned back

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- Terminally ill patients should be able to end their own lives with medical assistance

Question Text: Here are some statements about general social concerns. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- The government should increase opportunities for women in business and industry

Question Text: And here are some statements about economic issues. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- High income tax makes people less willing to work hard

Question Text: And here are some statements about economic issues. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- The trade unions in this country have too much power

Question Text: And here are some statements about economic issues. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- Big business in this country has too much power

Label: C9. Income and wealth re-distributed towards ordinary working people

Variable Name: C9P4

Nesstar ID: au.edu.anu.ada.ddi.01366_V162

Invalid Cases: 39

Valid Cases: 143

Variable Position: 162

Question Text: And here are some statements about economic issues. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- Income and wealth should be redistributed towards ordinary working people

Question Text: And here are some statements about economic issues. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- There should be stricter laws to regulate the activities of trade unions

Label: C9. Government should take measures to reduce differences in income levels

Variable Name: C9P6

Nesstar ID: au.edu.anu.ada.ddi.01366_V164

Invalid Cases: 39

Valid Cases: 143

Variable Position: 164

Question Text: And here are some statements about economic issues. Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of these statements.
- The government should take measures to reduce differences in income levels

Question Text: In all, how many years of tertiary study have you completed since you left secondary school? If your tertiary study was part-time, give the number of years of equivalent full-time study.

Question Text: In all, how many years of tertiary study have you completed since you left secondary school? If your tertiary study was part-time, give the number of years of equivalent full-time study.